Isaac s



(No Model.)

I. S. HOLLIDGE.

BOOK HOLDER. No. 388,972, Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

N PETERS. FhctrvLvlIvographnr. Washingiun. 0.:1

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ISAAC S. HOLLIDGE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BOOK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,972, dated September a, 1888.

Application filed April 6, 1888. Serial No. 269,790. {No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Isaac S. HOLLIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for sustaining a book such as used by book-kecpcrs and others in counting-rooms, officcs, government bureaus, &c.; and it has for its object the employment of devices which, in connection with a writing table or desk, will serve to support or hold a large book in any desired position of inclination with relation to the desk or table top.

A further object of the invention is to adapt a desk or table for the holder, whereby the latter, with the book supported thereon, may be moved laterally or longitudinally with respect to the top of the table; and a further object of the invention is to provide a holder which may be quickly attached to and removed from the desk or table without impairing the usefulness of either in any manner whatever. To this latter feature of the invention I attach considerable importance, as it will be seen that a person using a. book may shift or slide it from place to place along the desk or table with but very little exertion and without theinconvenience of lifting it, and I also attach importance to the fact that the holder is detachable, and may be readily removed and applied to any and all writingtables without special reference to their construction.

These several objects I accomplish at a n1inimum expense and by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a portion ofthe top of awriting-table equipped with my improvements and showing the holder in a position to receive abook. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view of the same, the dotted lines representing the position which the holder may assume when a book has been placed thereon. Fig. 3 is an inverted view of the holder removed from the table.

Referring by letter to the said drawings,

indicates a table-top, which may be that of any ordinary or approved writing table or desk, and B indicates a socket or track for the engagement of the holder, as will be presently explained. In the present illustration of the invention I have shown this track as being composed of three parts, a, Z), andr, the middle part or strip, 1), being of much less height than the two outer ones, which confine it, and the whole are preferably secured to the outer longitudinal edge of the desk-top by means of screws or other suitable fastening devices, as shown. This track or elongated socket may be composed of metal or other sufficiently strong material, and while I have described it as composed of three parts, yet I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to this precise manner of construction, as it is obvious that changes may be made bya mechanic without departing from the spirit of the invention. The construction shown, however, is desirable and preferable, although a track formed from a single piece with a channel or groove may be used.

0 indicates the book-holder, which may be formed of wood, metal, or other suitable material and of a size according to the size of the book to be held, being preferably of a length nearly equal to the width of the book when open, and may be provided at its lower edge with a ledge, d, to serve as a stop for the book when raised in an inclinedor tilting position. This holder is provided on its back or under side and a little out of its longitudinal center with a pair of connecting or attaching devices, which I denominate a carriage, and which are here shown as being common hinges having one wing of each properly secured to the holder and the other wing left free to depend and be placed in the slot or gnideway of the track. The object of using two of these hinges is to insure a sufficient connection for the holder, anditis obvious thatasingle long hinge might be employed instead of two smaller ones.

The middle section, b, of the socket or track serves as a bearing for the lower edge of the free wing of the hinge, as more fully shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which will prevent the wear from coming on the eye or barrel of the hinge and permit a more free and easy movement of the holder in the slot or socket.

The holder may have a cushion or tip, f, on its under side, which will prevent abrasion and harsh noise.

The holder is self-sustaining when in use, or, in other words, does not require the continual force or strength of the writer to keep the book from leaving or sliding off the desk when raised in an inclined or tilted position, as the socket or slot will serve as a check to any downward tendency.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s 1. A writingtable provided with a track at the outer edge of its top, in combination with a carriage and a book-holder hinged thereon, substantially as specified.

2. A book-holder consisting of a plate hav- Vitnesses:

E. WV. DASHIELL, T. E. TURPIN. 

